2021 Fall AMC 12A Problems/Problem 9

Problem

A right rectangular prism whose surface area and volume are numerically equal has edge lengths $\log_{2}x, \log_{3}x,$ and $\log_{4}x.$ What is $x?$

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2\sqrt{6} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 6\sqrt{6} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 24 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 48 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 576$

Solution

The surface area of this right rectangular prism is $2(\log_{2}x\log_{3}x+\log_{2}x\log_{4}x+\log_{3}x\log_{4}x).$

The volume of this right rectangular prism is $\log_{2}x\log_{3}x\log_{4}x.$

Equating the numerical values of the surface area and the volume, we have $2(\log_{2}x\log_{3}x+\log_{2}x\log_{4}x+\log_{3}x\log_{4}x)=\log_{2}x\log_{3}x\log_{4}x.$ Dividing both sides by $\log_{2}x\log_{3}x\log_{4}x,$ we get $2\left(\frac{1}{\log_{4}x}+\frac{1}{\log_{3}x}+\frac{1}{\log_{2}x}\right)=1. \hspace{15mm} (\bigstar)$ Recall that $\log_{b}a=\frac{1}{\log_{a}b}$ and $\log_{b}\left(a^n\right)=n\log_{b}a,$ so we rewrite $(\bigstar)$ as $\begin{align*} 2(\log_{x}4+\log_{x}3+\log_{x}2)&=1 \\ 2\log_{x}24&=1 \\ \log_{x}576&=1 \\ x&=\boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ 576}. \end{align*}$ ~MRENTHUSIASM

2021 Fall AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 8	Followed by Problem 10
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2021 Fall AMC 12A Problems/Problem 9

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